Spontaneous behavior and body temperature in male Central American Agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata) under different...

Pair-bonded males did not change rhythmic or phasic components of body temperature and motoric or behavioral activity with changing situations. Non pair-bonded males displayed lowered oscillations of body temperature and decreased motoric activity, those living with a male under established conditions and those living with a female under changed conditions. Non pair-bonded males exhibited distinct changes in amounts of at least one of behavioral elements (scrapemark, scentmark, bury and scrape; indicating elevated sympathetic arousal) with changing situations. Variations in motoric activity and amounts of these behavioral elements were correlated with variations in rhythmic and phasic components of body temperature. For the regulation of arousal the results suggest a balance between behavioral and physiological activity effecting body temperature. The efforts for this regulation depend on the social situation of the animal.